Improved wash-boiler



@anni @twine oR'EN BALDWIN, or Kuo-KIJK, IOWA.

Letters .Patent No. 94,378, dated August 31, 1869.

IMPROVED WA-S-H-BOILIER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, OREN BALDwrN, of Keokuk, in the county of Lee, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and improved Automatic Washer; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings,^making part of this speciiicaf tion, in Which- Figure l is an elevation of the improved washer', arranged in a boiler, which is shown in section.

Figure 2 is a topview of the-apparatus.

Figure 3 is a vertical section, taken transversely through the washer. y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements on washing-apparatus, wherein water is caused to circulate violently through the fabrics by the action of heat.

The nature of my invention consists in a horizontal steam-chamber, which has an oblong upwardlycontracted spout arranged on one side of it, with a detlecting-lip at its upper open end, which lip will direct the waterdownward in a thin sheet, as it leaves the upper end of said spout; and in providing that side of the steam-chamber which is opposite the said spout with passages, that will allow the water to enter said chamber, after circulating freely through the fabrics, in a downward and at the same time a lateral direction, as will be hereinafter' explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

ln the accompanying drawings* A represents a wash-boiler,which is provided with a cover, A, and which may be made circular, rectangular, or of the elliptical form shown in the drawings.

Within this boiler, and resting upon the bottoni thereof, is a steam-box, B, which consists of a vertical ange anda horizontal top plate, forming a horizontal steam-chamber.

Part of the ilange of the box B is out away at b l), and the edge of the top plate, along the opening thus left, is notched at g g, and covered by a corrugated strip, c, that forms horizontal water-passages.

'lhe notches g g and the opening at b allow water to circulate freely through them, and the corrugated strip a prevents fabrics which lie upon said box B from. closing the openings formed by the notches g.

The steam-box B is preferably made of the same size and shape as the interior of the vessel A, so as to fit snugly therein, but so that it can be removed therefrom at pleasure.

C represents an oblong spout, rising from the top of the steam-box nearly to the top of the vessel A, and terminating in a narrow opening, e, over which is a lateral-deflecting lip, c.

This spout C communicates with theinterior of the boxB, and is larger at its base than it is -at the opening e, as shown in fig. 3.

The spout() is also constructed upon thatside of the longitudinal centre ot' the box B opposite the notched edge g.

Operation.

Articles to be cleansed are put into the vessel A, upon the top of box B, and a suitable quantity of water and soap poured therein.

iVhen heat is applied to the bottoni of the vessel, the steam-generator in the box B will cause the water to rise in the spout (l and flow in a thin sheet from the opening e.

The over-hanging lip c will direct the stream issuing from opening e downward upon the fabrics below.

As the water is drawn from the box B, water from the chamber above this box will iloiv through the spaces y, to supply its place, and in this way a circulation and rotationof the'water in the vessel A will be produced, which will effectually cleanse the fabrics.

It will be seen that the currents of water take a downward, and at the saine time a' vertical course through the fabrics, owing to the arrangement of the spout C on one side of the steam-chest, and the arrangement of the passages g on the opposite side thereof.

It will also be seen that the water is delivered upon the fabrics in'a thin sheet, in length nearly equal to the length of the vessel A; and it will also be seen that the spout C will serve as a means by which the box B, and fabrics thereon, can be readily and conveniently lifted out of the vessel A.

Steam-box B may be made with a horizontal top, parallel with the bottom of the boiler, as shown, orit may be made sloping from the bottom of the spout C to the opening l), indicated by dotted line h, lig. 3, if thought desirable, for the purpose of -givingabetter direction to the steam and suds through the spout C.

Having described my invention,

What I clahn as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The box B, constructed with an upwardly-tapered oblong spout, C, having a discharge-opening, e, and an over-hanging deflecting-lip, c, substantially as described.

2. The corrugated strip a., forming arched waterpassages, leading to the passages g, in combination with the spout G and box B, substantially as and for the purposes described. l

, OBEN BALDWIN.

Witnesses:

L. R, Bissau., A. J. MCGRARY. 

